"General" versus "noncardiac" thoracic surgery.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to L R Bryant.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
From March, 1969, through June 1976, 108 porcine aortic xenograft valves were used for mitral or aortic valve replacement in 95 patients. This experience provides one of the longest follow-ups available for evaluation of the porcine bioprosthesis. The first fifteen valves were locally mounted on Cutter stents and preserved in buffered formalin. Subsequent valves were prepared by the Edwards and Hancock Companies with glutaraldehyde preservation. Oral anticoagulation was routinely used for the first 6 weeks following surgery. Hospital mortality was unrelated to the valve type. All but four of the surviving patients with formalin preserved valves have required reoperation because of valve failure. There have been two valve failures in the patients who received gluteraldehyde valves, but there have been no embolic or thrombotic complications. Late cardiac catheterization has shown hemodynamic results equal to or better than prosthetic valves. The continuing long-term results indicate that the porcine xenograft is the valve of choice for cardiac valve replacement.
Twenty-eight patients with malignant esophageal obstruction had palliative treatment using the Fell endoesophageal tube. The usual plan for these patients, irradiation followed by resection, was not followed because of the presence of tracheoesophageal fistula, celiac or hepatic metastases, or marked debilitation which precluded major operation. Palliation was obtained in ten patients who were discharged in a mean of 16.5 days with the ability to swallow liquids or pureed or ground foods and had a mean survival of 116 days. There was a high incidence of tube-related symptoms in all patients, and increased dysphagia, tube regurgitation, and difficulties in initiating swallowing were noted in patients with lesions above 24 cm from the incisors. The high incidence of postoperative ocmplications was responsible for the poor palliation and low survival in the remaining 18 patients who had a mean survival of 41 days. It was concluded that orthograde dilatation or forced seating of the prosthesis through a malignant esophageal obstruction carries a significant risk of perforation of the esophagus which, if it occurs, negates the palliative aspects of the procedure, increases hospitalization, and decreases survival. It is recommended that this procedure be used selectively in patients not otherwise amenable to resectional therapy with lesions beyond 24 cm from the incisors.
The large scale use of frozen blood has become practical and economical. Inventory control can be mastered. Components are derived as a by-product. An autologous blood transfusion program can be successfully developed. Frozen blood is available for transplantation patients. tover 25,000 units of frozen-thawed erythrocytes have been given without an allergic, anaphylactoid, or febrile reaction. In the future the majority of red blood cell transfusions may be given as frozen-thawed erythrocytes supplemented by washed refrigerated blood with optimal 2,3 DPG levels.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Persistent pericardial defects following intrapericardial pneumonectomy are, historically, the major cause of iatrogenic cardiac herniation. This complication is uniformly fatal when unrecognized and untreated and has been associated with a 43% mortality even with surgical correction. Suture approximation of all small defects is recommended, and a technique for routine pleural flap closure of moderate to large-sized defects is described.
A high incidence of thoracotomy wound infection and empyema in 1972 was associated with inadequate and irregular administration of prophylactic antibiotics. Beginning with 1973, a strict regimen was adopted that combined systemic cephalosporins and two topical antibiotics (cephalothin and kanamycin). Emphasis was placed on preoperative administration of the systemic agent and on use of the topical drugs before the operative field was contaminated. The patient groups for 1972 and 1973 were similar in most respects, but the wound complication rate was 18.4% in 1972 and 4.8% in 1973.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.